A GRIEVING Pershore mum has thanked the local community after a memorial for her son was given the green light.
Lucy Marshall expressed her thanks after caring members of Pershore Town Council donated logs from the Broad Street trees in a bid to create a bench in memory of her son Sean Stevens.
The 17-year-old tragically passed away hours after he was rescued from the Bilford Top Lock on the Worcestershire and Birmingham Canal on March 31.
And although the trees aren’t suitable for a memorial bench as was initially called for, Wychavon council chiefs are looking into the possibility of a memorial to Sean made out of the trees.
Ms Marshall thanked both Pershore Town Council and Wychavon District Council for their efforts.
“The trees are not suitable for a hard wearing bench hence a standard memorial bench is being placed in my son’s memory,” she said.
“The five plane trees donated by the Town Council are being used as a memorial for Sean, for his younger brother to remember him by.
“We as a family only asked the trees be used as something for my late son.
“I would like to thank each and everyone who has supported the trees, supported my late son, supported my younger son, myself and the cause of my wishes,” she added.
Pershore Town Council unanimously backed plans to use the trunks of the felled Broad Street at a full council meeting last Thursday (April 14).
Coun Charles Tucker said: “It is right that we should be able to use the trunks of the trees in a way which helps to benefit the town and to benefit people in the town.
“When I heard about this proposal I immediately gave it my support,” he added.
Phil Merrick, Joint Head of Economy and Communities at Wychavon District Council expressed the council’s condolences and sympathies to Sean’s family.
“We are working with his family and the local community to find a fitting and timely tribute to Sean, who we are told loved Abbey Park,” he said.
“We will support them to provide a new bench in the park dedicated to Sean. This will be positioned by the skate park which he enjoyed using.”
“Sadly the timber from London Plane trees is unsuitable for outdoor use as it would rot quickly.
“It would be very sad to erect something in Sean’s memory and for it to become unattractive and unusable within a short time.
“However, it is possible that some small scale carvings could potentially be made out of the wood and we’re looking into this on behalf of the family,” he added.
